Rights to novel

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 5

Rights to novel

Harry Saltzman, who struck it rich as the co-pro-ducer of the highly profitable series of James Bond movie adventures, has paid SUSSOO,OOO for the rights to “The Greek”, the best-selling French novel about the super-rich international set by Pierre Rey. He will produce “The Greek” with Serge Sillbermann, writes A. H. Weiler, of the New York Times News Service. A spokesman for the American publisher, Putnam’s, described the novel as dealing largely with the activities of “a Greek shipowner who is one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, and is married to the widow of an assassinated American politician”. But, said Mr Saltzman, “That’s not why the book was acquired. I simply found it the best social comedy I’ve ever read about. These super-rich people who live by their own laws, conventions, and morals. They are fascinating, and so much larger than life that they make James Bond look like a midget.” Mr Saltzman added that he was r’ ’.cussing the property with screen writers, and that he hoped to interest George C. Scott in playing the lead.

First, however, will be the co-production with Albert R. Broccoli of the latest Bond caper, “The Man with the Golden Gun”, with Roger Moore again playing the indestructible Bond. That should go before the cameras in April.